Comparison

Luminancer vs KinoGlitch

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Luminancer

Create abstract video art with this powerful app inspired by analog synthesizers. Ideal for live performances, music videos, or artistic expression. It uses a luminance threshold filter and a unique video processing pipeline to generate stunning visual effects.

Highlights
  • Analog synth-inspired video effects
  • Live performance ready
  • Luminance threshold filter
  • Abstract video processing pipeline
  • Enhance VJ rigs
  • Create music videos
Features
Read full description

Luminancer is a powerful one of a kind video effects app. It's modeled after classic analog synth hardware and is designed for live performances . It could be just the app you need to enhance a live VJ rig, create a music video, or just spend a moment manifesting yourself in the Luminiferous aether This is the app for masters of lightwave painting. Luminancer has been in the app store for 5 years and has been recognized for it’s early innovation and high performance. Skilled artists have utilized Luminancer in the flow arts of poi, fire, and hoop dancing. Luminancer can be found in use on the stage for headliner bands at major musical festivals and at the most underground rave parties. How it works: By overloading the luminance channel with strobing colors and video feedback, Luminancer defines itself as an instrument of abstract video. Luminancer starts with a luminance threshold filter and sends it’s signal down a video processing pipeline modeled after the early innovations and machines of the pioneers of video art. Luminancer is a truly independent app. It was conceived, developed, and designed by a single real person without any sort of external help or funding. The money raised from this app quite literally goes towards feeding my 2 children thank you and God bless.

About

KinoGlitch

Create dynamic 3D videos and images with glitch effects. Apply numerous grid presets and adjust object transparency, blending, and movement. Enhance your creations with over 50 controllable effects.

Highlights
  • 3D object creation for videos and images
  • 200+ grid presets
  • Adjustable grid divisions and intensity
  • Object transparency and blending controls
  • Record 3D object movement
  • 50+ controllable video effects
Features
Read full description

Turn your photos, videos and live camera into glitch art, moving 3D sculptures and visuals that react to sound. KinoGlitch is a creative playground for images in motion. Break a portrait into glowing particles, bend a scene through glass, stretch movement with slit-scan effects or build a look with layers, masks and text transformed by effects. Start with a preset, then shape it into something of your own. TURN IMAGES INTO 3D ART Transform photos and videos into sculptural meshes with 180+ grid and shape presets. Control depth, density, lighting and glow, then explore your scene from different angles. Add textures and backgrounds to develop your composition. CREATE WITH PARTICLES Rebuild your image with dots, rings, sparks, squares, diamonds or ASCII characters. Adjust particle size, depth and glow to move between delicate point clouds and bold digital textures. LET SOUND DRIVE THE LOOK Make meshes and particles respond to your video's audio or the microphone. In the Effects editor, let audio drive individual effect parameters, or draw custom curves to control how they change over time. EXPLORE 250+ EFFECTS AND OVERLAYS Experiment with RGB separation, pixel sorting, slit scan, glass refraction, mirrors, tunnels, waves, halftones and more. Combine distortion with 190+ color looks, including Neon, Cyber, Tokyo, Pale and Tint. BUILD YOUR EFFECTS IN LAYERS Choose when effects appear with a dedicated video timeline. Combine two effect tracks over your base look, apply shape masks and add text. Place words before an effect to distort them with the image, or keep them on top for a clean title. SEE IT THROUGH YOUR CAMERA Preview and record 3D mesh, particle and glitch effects as you shoot. Experiment with movement, light and sound in real time. SET YOUR ART IN MOTION Animate your 3D scene around different axes and record a full rotation. Save images and videos for music visuals, experimental films, digital artwork and social posts. KinoGlitch works on iPhone and iPad. Start creating for free with limited saves. KinoGlitch PRO unlocks unlimited saves, with subscription and one-time purchase options. Find inspiration on Instagram: @kinoglitch Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Luminancer2 screens
KinoGlitch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: KinoGlitch at Free against Luminancer's $2.99. KinoGlitch also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (85% vs 64%). Luminancer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 5 weeks). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

KinoGlitch is free to download; Luminancer costs $2.99 up front. KinoGlitch sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Luminancer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KinoGlitch holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KinoGlitch has 98 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Luminancer's written reviews are positive against 85% of KinoGlitch's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Luminancer ships an update every 6 days, KinoGlitch every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Luminancer versus KinoGlitch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLuminancerKinoGlitch
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (17 ratings)4.7 (98 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.2% of reviews84.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1798 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#96 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB230 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTron Quixotetalonsodev

Customer experience

Luminancer

All ratings16 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral18.8%
Negative18.8%
Written reviews109 reviews
Positive64.2%
Neutral9.2%
Negative26.6%

KinoGlitch

All ratings98 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral1.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral2.6%
Negative12.8%

Bugs and requests

Luminancer

Reported bugs

55 issues
  • Camera won't work
  • Video import crops/squeezes image
  • App zooms in on videos
  • Switches back to square video size
  • Paid features don't work
Show 50 more
  • App is unusable
  • Videos zoomed in and cannot zoom out
  • App crashes and exits
  • App glitches and deletes videos
  • App freezes
  • Video not loading/saving/rewatching
  • App stuck on loading screen or crashes
  • App doesn't like videos over a minute
  • App ends up stuck on loading screen after recording
  • App crashes altogether
  • Videos are compressed and stretched
  • Settings are confusing
  • App crashes and exits the app
  • App crashes and doesn't save videos
  • App crashes after a minute or two
  • Video comes out upside down
  • Error saving to phone library
  • App crashes when putting video from camera roll
  • App saves videos upside down
  • App is slow at exporting videos
  • Update has broken the app
  • App force closes
  • App won't save edited versions
  • App shows error message and won't save recordings
  • App not loading videos taken
  • App loads indefinitely, not allowing playback
  • Videos save upside down
  • App stops recording when phone auto-locks
  • App crashes as soon as phone auto-locks
  • App crashes 3 times on first use
  • App says error and won't save to phone
  • App crashes or tells error while processing
  • App crashes regularly
  • App doesn't let user set phone down and record
  • Phone goes black and video doesn't save
  • App gets stuck on loading screen until it crashes
  • Cannot save anything longer than about 2 minutes
  • Cannot save uploaded videos
  • App crashes on auto lock
  • App crashes when phone auto locks
  • App freezes upon opening
  • App doesn't work at all
  • Camera shows dark screen
  • App crashes on auto lock
  • App crashes when phone auto locks
  • App crashes and doesn't always save videos
  • App crashes regularly
  • App doesn't load images from library
  • App doesn't record audio on video capture
  • Swap button does not appear on iPhone 4

Requested features

17 requests
  • Add scales to Decay and Threshold controls
  • Add more modules/effects
  • Allow importing videos from library
  • Add a dark mode option
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard
Show 12 more
  • Improve video import/cropping behavior
  • Add ability to save presets
  • Add input/output feature for external ins and outs
  • Add a specific DATA-MOSH filter
  • Add sound to light feature
  • Make UI hideable
  • Add landscape mode support
  • Add exposure slider and locker
  • Allow selection of main color for effects
  • Add ability to record audio
  • Add ability to upload pictures
  • Add ability to use AirPlay

KinoGlitch

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Luminancer

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

KinoGlitch

Subscriptions2
  • KinoGlitch PRO3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • KinoGlitch PRO$4.991 Year
One-time1
  • KinoGlitch PRO$7.99

Questions

Is Luminancer free?
Luminancer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is KinoGlitch free?
KinoGlitch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Luminancer or KinoGlitch?
KinoGlitch is rated higher. Luminancer averages 4.0 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while KinoGlitch averages 4.7 from 98 ratings.
Do Luminancer or KinoGlitch have ads?
Neither Luminancer nor KinoGlitch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Luminancer or KinoGlitch?
Luminancer ships an update every 6 days, and KinoGlitch every 5 weeks. Most recently, Luminancer was updated on October 29, 2026 and KinoGlitch on October 29, 2026.

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